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The Ludington Daily News from Ludington, Michigan • Page 20

Location:
Ludington, Michigan
Issue Date:
Page:
20
Extracted Article Text (OCR)

THE DAILY NEWS-LUDINGTON, MICHIGAN. THURSDAY, JUNE 24, 1943. m's Marine History Is Long and Noble Tale of Men and Ships AGNES E. MacLAREN) Those who have grown up in tlYcjington have become so accustomed to the sight of ships are, prone to take our Ifftkji.Michigan traffic as a seldom stopping that some time or other transportation must have started. vessels on Lake Mich- back of course to the earliest Indian days when the migrant tribes, moving from one, camp to another, soon learned that traveling by canoe was much easier and faster than by foot.

When the missionaries arrived in this region, they too made use of canoes to make their journeys between Indian camps where they would Christianize the natives. Early traders. likewise found- that it much less tiring to pack canoe" and paddle along thn fehore than to carry their goods their back. As first lumbermen and then farmers came into this territory, the need for quick and became more 'and more apparent. And when there was sufficient timber and later salt and other produce to be sent out, owners df sailing vessels would bring their craft into ports along this side of the Lake Michigan shore.

From on, Ludington has been known as a port city, until today her Pere Marquette carferries ply across Lake Michigan without interruption, a rapid route for war products. To return to an earlier day, when lumbering was in its heyday in this area there could al- Ihost always been seen at least. two sailing vessels in Luding- fon harbor and cjuite frequently the harbor would be filled witn the craft, docked while being Joaded with timber from Mason county forests to be sent across the lake to Illinois and Wisconsin manufacturers. Perhaps when lumbering be- It Isn't Legal, No Sir! This little lad has made the mistake of just up and deciding to take a jump in the clothes. He looks up to find the shadow of the "law" changing his party plans.

earlier day fewer trips steamboats made into entered fewer and Ludington, the port to die out around more frenquently. residents of Ludington became i The June m3 Qf Ludington Weekly Appeal, one of the oldest on 1'iie in The News office, lists the June arrivals and departures of ships Into her port. But a natural port, with as fine-a harbor as that of Lud- ln.gtpn, would never fall into disuse. With the coming jsteam, the windjammers of of into this port. Many of these wore schooners, some brigs and some barges.

Most of an I coming into port were them from -a, No Ration Points for Fun in Milwaukee and Chicago with others From Michigan City, Port Washington, Siheboygan, Detroit, Grand Haven and Kenolia. Drnarturcs were for Chicago, Milwaukee, Racine, Sheboy- and Detroit. The July 4 issue of the same paper of the same year reported that a raft of 551,000 feet of pine logs "left E. B. Ward's dork on f.hc 24th and was towed by the schooner Herchel to Chi- cuso in 63 hours.

A big thing, wnll done, and for which the captain and crew merit com-i years mondation." Also in the July 4 issue is Michigan, disasters that, costing many lives and much pro- nerty damage, have played a large, part in the development of this port city. These make colorful stories that will live forever in the annals of Lake Michigan, but the constructive work of the ships, their tinual plying across Lake Mich- jigan, their constant moderni- jzation, their added useage, all add up to a total that makes Ludington one of the leading harbors on the Great Lakes, in spite of the fact that these factors are such every day oc- icurrences that, by their daily repetition, they have become commonplace as to be taken for granted. In 1874 Flint Pere Marquette Railway Co. extended its rail line to Ludington, reaching here Dec. 18.

Soon after it became apparent that freight, brought here by rail, should be carried across the lake by vessel. The following summer a small, privately sidewheol steamer started this extended service from an improvised dock i here. In 1870 the railway built a pile dock at Ludington, with 'adjacent warehouse, and this was the beginning of the present Pere Marquette service. In these steamboat-pioneer freight transfer was accomplished by hand from freight cars to the ships and from ships to freight cars. This was called break-bulk.

During the years between 1876 and 1882, Flint Pere Marquette railway routed all of its lake freight by the break-bulk line then existing on Lake Michigan because of its own lack of equipment. In 1881 the railway decided to operate its own line of break- bulk boats and contracted for the building of two. In September. 1882. the F.

P. M. No. 1 land the F. P.

M. No. 2, both (wooden steamers, were delivered to Ludington for cross- Uake service in connection with the railway. The volume ol' freight to be ferried across the grew so rapidly that in 1883 it far exceeded the capacity of these ships, which then were taken to Detroit and, bv being cut in the middle and 36 feet built amidships, were lengthened to provide additional space. In 1887 the railway bought property at Milwaukee to allow proper dockage facilities there.

In 1887 another vessel, the F. P. M. No. 3, was added to the line, in 1888 the F.

P. M. No. 4 became a part of the system and in 1390 was added the F. P.

M. No. 5. All of these were wooden break-bulk boats. Several men, well-known in Ludington, sailed on 'the No.

5 L. Mercereau, for many marine superintendent of Poem by C. G. Wing Told Story of Fr. Marquette By C.

G. WING (Written in 1874) Editor's Note: This poem, written in the dim long-ago when Ludington was young, comes to The News through courtesy of Mrs. William DeYoung of Pentwater, formerly of Ludington. Mrs. DeYoung keeps it in a scrap book of other old-time treasures.

Mr, Wing, as many readers will remember, was for several years publisher of The News. From the old and dim traditions of our western wild frontier, of the border life of hunter of the buffalo and deer, Is drawn a thrilling incident that sends a shudder cold Down the school boy's marrow bones whenever it is told. Round the winter evening's fireside, listening children long ago Heard this story told by men whose locks were white as snow; And Indian mothers further back, in this land we still call new, Sung to their dusky babes the tale I now relate to you. Long e're trade and manufacturer's lumber-making had begun To sound along the streets and alleys of our thriving Ludington, Long before these streets existed, when the wolves and wildcats sped Along the roads where toil at present teams and wagon loads instead, And the swamps and swelling uplands that round our city sweep Covered o'er the swaying forests, ever green and broad and deep Echoed with the Indian war-whoop and the wild deer's startled leap. Some prophecies concerning us the fates began to keep.

Then up at the head of the Little lake, along the foot of, the hill, On a smooth romantic place to the north of Stanchfield and Foster's mill, Where now the summer picnic cloth is spread by laughing girls, Then the smoke of an Indian village rose up in graceful curls, A hundred wigwams stood in sight and groups of busy squaws And Redskins by the score, unkept by any laws. The women dressed the furs and pelts and dried the venison; The hunters smoked and dozed away through the hazy afternoon. Out on the lake were spearing fish, a dozen boys or more. A fleet of slender birch canoes were fastened to the shore. It was now in lovely May time when the hours float idly by, A warm, luxurious atmosphere, faint colors in the sky, A look of languid drowsiness was over the encampment spread, But the lazy hunters started at the echo of a tread Sounding distant through the forest, then more near and nearer yet, Till before the gathered warriors stood the pilgrim, Pere Marquette.

They took him gladly by the fame had come before, They led him joyfully along to the old chief's wigwam door; They feasted him of succotash, jerked venison and bear, They made him couch of softest furs and tended him with care; But the old man's limbs were weary and his pale face paler grew, And his food was left untasted while the old moon changed to new. And his faith grew brighter as he taught those savage men Of their great White Father, Christ, who had bid him come to them, Here a vast and thriving city, in the future man shall make, And the wisdom of its sons and the beauty of its daughters Shall rival in effulgence the sunset on these waters." Mournfully the north wind sighing, told the story on ahe.ad, That Pere Marquette was Pere Marquette was dead. They buried in Indian fashion, in a grave beside the shore, And left him sleeping to the music of the billows' constant roar. We look today upon these Red men coming in to sell their furs, Riding little scrubby ponies with their tails stuck full of burrs, The discrepancy is fearful between the dusky warrior's looks And the ideal Indian warrior that we read of in the books, But gazing on his squalid person, let us never quite forget, All the years of wasting sorrow, he has felt for Pere Marquette. At the silent hour of midnight, when the silver moonbeams shine Upon the sandhills by the shore at sharp 12 by Caswell's time, Can ipe seen a ghostly spectre, slowly moving up and down, And between perambulations gazing over towards the town.

I Then the phantom seems to vanish, riding on the misty swell, Tis the khost of Pere Marquette to see if we are doing well. a the Pere Marquette; former Mayor Peter Madison. Capt. Neil story of three men, Mr. Gush-JMacIsaac, Hugh Mulligan of Mr.

Harris and Mr. Arm-1 the United States inspection strong, all of Ludington, who service. inude a voyage to Manistee in aj By 1895, it was evident that the break-bulk method of handling freight was costly not only from a financial standpoint, but also resulted in much of time. In that year a plan of constructing a ship which would actually carry freight cars materialized and the F. P.

M. ordered one of those new steel carferries. This ship was delivered Feb. 19, 1897, a day that has gone down in the history of navigation. First known simply as the Pere Marquette and later as the boat in four hours.

"While turning Point Sable. Iliey Avere overtaken by a squall nvd for some time were liable 'o be by the rolling of I loss I.ho sea, but as good luck and management would have it they mndf! the port of Manatee with flying colors. Tho had now risen and to re- was a difficulty not easily In be overcome, but fortunately and much to their gratification the Lake Breeze took them in Low and landed them safely in this harbor. While Marquette 15, this car- towed by the Breeze and en- ferry proved herself one of the countering a stiff head wind, the sea frequently broke over their boat. Nevertheless, being full of pluck and well manned with a goodly amount of self possession, they battled botn and wave and now are fully satisfied with their experience and outlay of money." Throughout the have been many most wonderful craft ever launched on fresh water.

She had a length of 350 feet with a 56-foot beam. She had four deck-tracks and a capacity for freight cars. Her driving engines were rated at 2,500 indicated horsepower, and her hull was so constructed as to years there'make her effective as an ice disasters to breaker. Beaches at Ludington, Ep worth, Luclinnton Slate park, flamlin lake and elsewhere in this region provide the kind of fun relaxation that people really yearn for these days. When You Are at Big Bass Lake Visit the NA-TA-KA TAVERN 11 Miles North of Branch.

Ludington vessels on Lake On Jan. 1, 1901, a consolida- PROTECT YOUR HOME and COTTAGE WITH BOYDELL PAINT ECONOMY AND LONGER LIFE! Give your home extra years of wear and beauty by giving it a new coat of Boydell paint. You can pend upon this paint withstanding all sorts of weather without cracking or chipping. Its high lead content makes it stay smooth, tough and durable. Ackersville Hardware Co.

128 West Ludington Ave. Phone 13 And tell them not to kill each other, not to even scalp the slain; i That all Red men were His children and all white men just! the same. Thus he taught them through the summer, while his strength; was going fast, i 'Till one evening all were gathered while the father -breathed his last. "My children," spoke the dying pilgrim, and the women sobbed and wept, i And the warriors stood like statues as the north wind past them "My children, take my parting blessing, for I now must say farewell; I I bless you Indians, young and old, I bless the land in which yoji dwell. My choicest blessings rest forever, all around this little lake.

tion of several railway lines brought about Pere Marquette Railway absorbing the Flint Pere Marquette and the Chicago and Railroad Co. previous to 1901, this latter line i had operated a carferry service between Muskegon and Milwaukee. On this route was used the carferry Muskegon. Following the consolidation of 1901 the M.uskegon was rechristened the Pere Marquette 16. In the latter part of 1903 three steel Pere Marquettg car- ferries were operating out of Ludington.

By this time the railroad had dispensed entirely with using package freighters and had embarked on a pro- gram of expanding its carferry system. The fleet was added to in 1911 and again in, 1924 and, with addition of two larger, higher- speed ferries, built in 1929 and! 1930, the Pere Marquette rail- Mirhiean wav had developed the largest: 0 yS eet; of carferriea In the was the Midland 41 was added to the line in 1941. Today there are operating across the lake six fast ferries, the 41. the 32, the 31, the 22, 21 and 18. All except the 18 art fitted for passengers as well as (Please turn to Page 8, Column 4) BASS LAKE STORE 11 Miles North of Phone Baldwin 60-F-32.

BOATS GAS SUPPLIES GOOD FISHING Otto Bartlett Irons, Mich. BARTON'S CAMP NEAR THE PERE MARQUETTE RIVER IN WALHALLA ON US-10 Good Roads-Beautiful Scenery-Lakes-Rivers Excellent Fishing FEATURING 24-Hr. Service Information Gasoline Complete Garage Service CONVENIENT COMFORTABLE CABINS WITH SHOWERS AND INNER- SiPRING MATTRESSES, PUBLIC LAUNDRY WITH ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT. Big Log Cabin SOUTH SIDE OF ROUND LAKE Three Miles North of Walhalla and One Quarter Mile West. Free Transportation to the Resort from the Bus or Train at Walhalla.

Hunting Fishing in Season CABINS and BOATS BY DAY OR LONGER "BIG LOG CABIN RESORT" Walhalla, Michigan D. E. FULKES, Prop. PHONE 19-F-13,.

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About The Ludington Daily News Archive

Pages Available:
95,345
Years Available:
1930-1977